THE HINDU EDITORIAL : DECEMBER 14, 2018

Dear Banking Aspirants,

THE HINDU EDITORIAL – December 14, 2018, is one of the must-read section for the competitive exams like  IBPS Clerk 2018, Canara Bank PO – PGDBF 2018 and IBPS SO 2018. These topics are widely expected to be asked in the reading comprehension, Cloze Test or Error Detection in the forthcoming exams. So gear up your Exam preparation and learn new words daily.

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A) Time after time: on TRS victory

In Telangana, the TRS banked on its regional appeal to keep the Congress out again

In continuing with its politics of regional identity, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi won a second term in office in India’s newest State, pushing the national party, the Congress, to a distant second. TRS leader K. Chandrasekhara Rao, sworn in again as Chief Minister, had made a calculated gamble by advancing the election, which was due along with the Lok Sabha election. The motive was clear: he did not want to fight the Assembly polls alongside the Lok Sabha election, in which the Congress would have been a strong contender at the national level. The gamble paid off handsomely, and the TRS has added 25 seats to its 2014 tally of 63 with an increase of 12 percentage points in vote share. For the second time, the Congress failed to capitalise on its role in carving out Telangana from Andhra Pradesh, allowing the TRS a runaway victory. While it did not get any credit in Telangana for bringing the State into being, it had to take all the blame in Andhra Pradesh for the bifurcation, where it conceded space to its breakaway party, the YSR Congress Party. Mr. Rao is now firmly entrenched in government, and his son, K.T. Rama Rao, is a parallel power centre. In the last five years, far from being able to challenge the TRS politically, the Congress appears to have slipped in voter estimation.

Some of the Congress’s failures will have to be attributed to the national leadership, which hurriedly entered into an alliance with the Telugu Desam Party. Although the TDP does enjoy support in Hyderabad and surrounding areas, it is seen in the rest of Telangana as essentially a party of the neighbouring State of Andhra Pradesh. Congress president Rahul Gandhi may have been looking at the bigger picture when he welcomed the TDP as part of a broad Opposition alliance, but Telangana voters took a cynical view of the coming together of the two parties that were principal rivals just five years ago.

Although the People’s Front of the Congress and the TDP drafted a common programme, and held a joint campaign, this was not enough to challenge the TRS, which moved to poll mode several months in advance. The result could also have implications for the Assembly election in Andhra Pradesh next year, as the TDP might be wary of being identified too closely with the Congress, which is still seen as having facilitated the bifurcation. The TRS, which talks of maintaining equidistance between the Congress and the BJP, is more likely to back the BJP than the Congress in the post-election scenario. And given that the TDP, until a few months ago, was an ally of the BJP, any which way the Congress looks at it the twin States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh remain a difficult terrain.

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B) Theresa must

Having survived a party challenge, the British PM should spell out London’s next steps

British Prime Minister Theresa May has survived a trust vote on her Conservative party stewardship. But there is little sign that the bitter infighting within the ruling party will abate. Nor is there any assurance that Parliament will back her government’s controversial Brexit deal with the European Union. The leadership challenge was suddenly triggered by a growing number of Tory rebels who felt emboldened by widespread opposition to the withdrawal agreement that has united Europhiles and Eurosceptics across parties. Their resistance gained momentum when Ms. May, deeply apprehensive about its approval by the Commons, decided to defer a vote on the deal. Following her victory in the party leadership battle, Ms. May hopes to secure more assurances from European leaders that Britain would not be permanently locked into a customs union with the EU. The customs union is the backstop arrangement meant to continue the open border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, a lifeline of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement. London has sought to sell the backstop as the best possible deal that could protect the U.K.’s territorial integrity. The EU insists the withdrawal agreement cannot be reopened for negotiations. The Remain and Leave camps want legal assurances that the customs union would at best be temporary, given the curbs it would impose regarding trade agreements with third countries.

It is possible that Brussels will adopt a flexible stance, despite its protestations to the contrary, to avert a no-deal scenario on the expiry of the Article 50 deadline on March 29, 2019. Examples of how the dilemma posed by the Danish rejection of the 1991 EU treaty, or Ireland’s ‘No’ to the Lisbon treaty were legally overcome are being cited in relation to the present difficulty with the Irish backstop. Clearly, the EU’s main concern is not to stretch the basic idea that the benefits of membership are limited to insiders. But the U.K. will have to show some flexibility, of deferring to the democratic mandate of the referendum, while recognising the practical imperatives of ceasing a long partnership. In that respect, it would be wishful thinking, to paraphrase former Prime Minister John Major, to want to dispense with the Irish formula that has been written into the withdrawal agreement. Tory rebels should rise above their narrow differences in the national interest and back the final agreement presented to Parliament in January. Else, they risk an extension of the Brexit deadline and even possibly a second referendum on the EU membership issue. The meaning of the 2016 referendum verdict has evolved from implying that a no-deal withdrawal was better than a bad deal to an acceptance that a soft exit is the more realistic option. Now, opinions on a second referendum are being openly voiced. It’s time London decided what it really wants.

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VOCABULARY

1) sworn

Meaning : determined to remain in the role or condition specified.

Tamil Meaning : பதவியேற்றார்

Synonyms : affirmed

Example : “they were sworn enemies”

2) gamble

Meaning : play games of chance for money; bet(v).

Synonyms : venture

Antonyms : sureness

Example : “he gambles on football”

3) contender

Meaning : a person or group competing with others to achieve something.(n)

Tamil Meaning : போட்டியாளராக

Synonyms : competition

Antonyms : associate

Example : “a presidential contender”

4) mandate

Meaning : an official order or commission to do something.

Tamil Meaning : ஆணை

Synonyms : command

Antonyms : denial

Example : “a mandate to seek the release of political prisoners”

5) carving

Meaning : an object or design carved from a hard material as an artistic work.

Tamil Meaning : செதுக்குதல்

Synonyms : chisel

Antonyms : combine

Example : “a carving of an Asian elephant”

6) conceded

Meaning : admit or agree that something is true after first denying or resisting it.

Synonyms : accept

Antonyms : defend

Example : “I had to concede that I’d overreacted”

7) entrenched

Meaning :(of an attitude, habit, or belief) firmly established and difficult or unlikely to change; ingrained.

Tamil Meaning : சூழப்பட்டுள்ள

Synonyms : firm

Antonyms : changeable

Example : “an entrenched resistance to change”

8) estimation

Meaning : a rough calculation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.

Tamil Meaning : கணிப்பு

Synonyms : appraisal

Antonyms : disapproval

Example : “estimations of protein concentrations”

9) cynical

Meaning : believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity.

Tamil Meaning : குறைகாணும்

Synonyms : derisive

Antonyms : believing

Example : “he was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun”

10) campaign

Meaning : a series of military operations intended to achieve a goal, confined to a particular area, or involving a specified type of fighting.

Tamil Meaning : பிரச்சாரம்

Synonyms : crusade

Antonyms : inaction

Example : “a desert campaign”

11) implications

Meaning : the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.

Tamil Meaning : தாக்கங்கள்

Synonyms : conclusion

Antonyms : proof

Example : “the implication is that no one person at the bank is responsible”

12) facilitated

Meaning : make (an action or process) easy or easier.

Tamil Meaning : வசதி

Synonyms : ease

Antonyms : cease

Example : “schools were located in the same campus to facilitate the sharing of resources”

13) bifurcation

Meaning : the division of something into two branches or parts.

Tamil Meaning : வகுக்கப்படுகையில்

Synonyms : complication

Antonyms : cause

Example : “the bifurcation of the profession”

14) extension

Meaning : a part that is added to something to enlarge or prolong it.

Synonyms : delay

Antonyms : decrease

Example : “the railway’s southern extension”

15) scenario

Meaning : a written outline of a film, novel, or stage work giving details of the plot and individual scenes.

Tamil Meaning : சூழ்நிலையில்

Synonyms : plot

Example : “the scenarios for four short stories”

16) ally

Meaning : a state formally cooperating with another for a military or other purpose.

Tamil Meaning : கூட்டாளியான

Synonyms : colleague

Antonyms : detractor

Example : “debate continued among NATO allies”

17) terrain

Meaning : a stretch of land, especially with regard to its physical features.

Tamil Meaning : நிலப்பரப்பு

Synonyms : contour

Example : “they were delayed by rough terrain”

18) abate

Meaning :(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

Synonyms : decrease

Antonyms : develop

Example : “the storm suddenly abated”

19) controversial

Meaning : giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement.

Tamil Meaning : சர்ச்சைக்குரிய

Synonyms : disputed

Antonyms : definite

Example : “years of wrangling over a controversial bypass”

20) triggered

Meaning : (of a response) caused by particular action, process, or situation.

Tamil Meaning : தூண்டப்படலாம்

Synonyms : generate

Antonyms : destroy

Example : “a triggered memory of his childhood”

21) rebels

Meaning :rise in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or leader.

Tamil Meaning : போராளி

Synonyms : opponent

Antonyms : adherent

Example : “the Earl of Pembroke subsequently rebelled against Henry III”

22) emboldened

Meaning : give (someone) the courage or confidence to do something.

Tamil Meaning : துணிவு

Synonyms : energize

Antonyms : discourage

Example : “emboldened by the claret, he pressed his knee against hers”

23) widespread

Meaning : found or distributed over a large area or number of people.

Tamil Meaning : பரவலாக

Synonyms : common

Antonyms : concentrated

Example : “there was widespread support for the war”

24) resistance

Meaning :the refusal to accept or comply with something.

Tamil Meaning : எதிர்ப்பு

Synonyms : defiance

Antonyms : assistance

Example : “they displayed a narrow-minded resistance to change

25) apprehensive

Meaning : anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will happen.

Tamil Meaning : பயம்

Synonyms : concerned

Antonyms : certain

Example : “he felt apprehensive about going home”

26) assurances

Meaning : a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.

Tamil Meaning : உத்தரவாதங்களை

Synonyms : assertion

Antonyms : denial

Example : “he gave an assurance that work would begin on Monday”

27) territorial

Meaning :relating to the ownership of an area of land or sea.

Synonyms : provincial

Example : “territorial disputes”

28) integrity

Meaning : the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.

Tamil Meaning : நேர்மை

Synonyms : honesty

Antonyms : deceit

Example : “a gentleman of complete integrity”

29) negotiations

Meaning :discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

Tamil Meaning : பேச்சுவார்த்தைகள்

Synonyms : arbitration

Antonyms : disagreement

Example : “a worldwide ban is currently under negotiation“

30) assurances

Meaning :a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.(n)

Tamil Meaning : உத்தரவாதங்களை

Synonyms : affirmation

Antonyms : denial

Example : “he gave an assurance that work would begin on Monday”

31) impose

Meaning : force (an unwelcome decision or ruling) on someone.

Tamil Meaning : திணிக்க

Synonyms : appoint

Antonyms : disorder

Example : “the decision was theirs and was not imposed on them by others”

32) stance

Meaning : the way in which someone stands, especially when deliberately adopted (as in cricket, golf, and other sports); a person’s posture.

Tamil Meaning : நிலைப்பாடு

Synonyms : posture

Example : “she altered her stance, resting all her weight on one leg”

33) despite

Meaning : contemptuous treatment or behaviour; outrage.

Tamil Meaning : போதிலும்

Synonyms : against

Example : “the despite done by him to the holy relics”

34) protestations

Meaning : an emphatic declaration in response to doubt or accusation.(n)

Tamil Meaning : எதிர்ப்புகள்

Synonyms : censure

Antonyms : agreement

Example : “her protestations of innocence were in vain”

35) contrary

Meaning : opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.

Tamil Meaning : மாறாக

Synonyms : antithetical

Antonyms : agreeing

Example : “he ignored contrary advice and agreed on the deal”

36) avert

Meaning :turn away (one’s eyes or thoughts).

Tamil Meaning : தவிர்க்க

Synonyms : deter

Antonyms : allow

Example : “she averted her eyes while we made stilted conversation”

37) deferring

Meaning : put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.

Tamil Meaning : மதித்தல்

Synonyms : delay

Antonyms : allow

Example : “they deferred the decision until February”

38) dispense

Meaning : distribute or provide (a service or information) to a number of people.

Tamil Meaning : தவிர்த்திட

Synonyms : allocate

Antonyms : conceal

Example : “orderlies went round dispensing drinks”

39) implying

Meaning : indicate the truth or existence of (something) by suggestion rather than explicit reference.

Tamil Meaning : உணர்த்துகிறது

Synonyms : entail

Antonyms : define

Example : “salesmen who use jargon to imply superior knowledge”

40) verdict

Meaning :a decision on an issue of fact in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.

Tamil Meaning : தீர்ப்பு

Synonyms : award

Antonyms : accusation

Example : “the jury returned a verdict of not guilty”

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Aspirants can check the Whole planner of IBPS CLERK Prelims Exam 2018 from the below given link. 

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IBPS CLERK prelims Exam 2018 – Planner 

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THE HINDU EDITORIAL : DECEMBER 10, 2018

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Aspirants can find the other important THE HINDU EDITORIAL topics from the link that is mentioned below, to score more in the English section, THE HINDU EDITORIAL is vital and considered as the best source to learn more. Learning THE HINDU EDITORIAL provides you with an added advantage for the aspirants as this assist in their bank exam preparations.

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Check the other important THE HINDU EDITORIAL from the previous months that are available in our Bankersdaily website through the links that are mentioned below.

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THE HINDU EDITORIAL –  JUNE

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THE HINDU EDITORIAL – JULY 

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Other Important Notification: Released In November 2018

IBPS CLERK PRELIMS EXAM 2018 REVIEW, ANALYSIS AND QUESTIONS ASKED IN EXAM-SLOT I -SHIFT 1 – December 8, 2018

TNPSC Group II Prelims 2018 – Expected Cutoff Marks

ESIC SSO Prelims Score Card 2018 Released

TNSPSC Group II 2018 Answer Key – General English & General Tamil

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